Extruded metal door frame and hinge assembly



G. A. FABICH 3,380,218

EXTRUDED METAL DOOR FRAME AND HINGE ASSEMBLY April 30, l968 Filed Aprill5, 1966 United States Patent O 3,380,218 EXTRUDED METAL DOOR FRAME ANDHINGE ASSEMBLY George A. Fabich, R.D. 1, Wampum, Pa. 16157 Filed Apr.15, 1966, Ser. No. 542,821 3 Claims. (Cl. 52-656) ABSTRACT F THEDISCLOSURE A frame assembly comprising: a plurality of elongatedextruded members mitered together at meeting ends to dene a rectangularframe, each of said members having a longitudinal groove substantiallymidway of its width, the groove of one member meeting that of another atsaid mitered ends; each of said grooves having on its confronting innerfaces a plurality of parallel, elongated splines; angle bracketsoverlying each pair of meeting ends, -and screws penetrating saidbrackets and engaging the splines of the meeting grooves.

This invention relates to the general field of closure members and, morespecifically, the present invention pertains to door frame constructionsand the mounting means for swinging doors and similar articles.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide an extrudeddoor frame as, for example, a door frame for a cabinet wherein the frameis extruded from aluminum or other lightweight metallic materials orother suitable materials capable of being extruded, and wherein theframe construction is such as to reduce the frame Weight to a minimumwithout sacrificing the needed strength thereof to the extent that theminimal weight of the door frame impairs its intended function.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a cabinet doorframe with a continuous splined groove which completely eliminates thenecessity for drilling the frame in order to mount the fastening catch,the corner clips, and inside shelves or brackets.

A further object of this invention is to provide, in a cabinet doorassembly generally described above, a hinging means which are concealedfrom view When the door is in its closed position, and where the severalcomponent elements of the door frame include integral portions thereofwhich comprise a cooperating element of the hinge means.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a cabinet doorframe which is simple and which presents a neat and attractive finishedappearance, and which, if desired, may be quickly and easily assembledat the site of installation.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a cabinet doorframe wherein the component elements of the frame are provided with aconstant transverse crosssection and is, thus, capable of beinginexpensively manufactured through mass manufacture by extrusionprocesses.

This invention contemplates, as a still further object thereof, theprovision of an extruded door frame, the frame being non-complex inconstruction and assembly,

inexpensive to manufacture and maintain, and which isk rugged anddurable in use.

Other and further objects and advantages of the instant invention willbecome more manifest from a consideraation of the followingspecification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawing, inwhich:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of an extruded cabinet door frameconstructed in accordance with this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the cabinet door frame andshowing the cabinet in association with a wall and including a door jambtherefor;

3,380,218 Patented Apr. 30, 1968 FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentarydetail cross-sectional view, FIGURE 3 being taken substantially on thehorizontal plane of line 3 3 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction ofthe arrows;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of the doorframe assembly and illustrating the corner construction thereof; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged exploded perspective view, partly incross-section, of one of the door frame members and showing the hingeconnecting means therefor.

Referring now more speciiically to the single sheet of drawings,reference numeral designates, in general, a cabinet door including aframe therefor, the frame being constructed in accordance with theteachings of this invention. As is seen in the several figures of thedrawing, the frame is open and substantially rectangular inconfiguration and is seen to include a pair of elongated substantiallyrectangular side frame members 12, 14, the side frame members beingdisposed in laterally-spaced and substantially parallel relationshipwith respect to one another. The adjacent pairs of ends of the sideframe members 12, 14 are joined by end frame members 16, 18, the endframe members 16, 18 being longitudinally-spaced relative to the sideframe members 12, 14 and the end frame members 16, 18 are positionedsubstantially parallel to one another.

The side and end frame members 12, 14 and 16, 18 are formed of extrudedaluminum or of other lightweight metals or metallic alloys. In thepractice of this invention, the use of extrusion processes in theformation of the side and end frame members 12, 14 and 16, 18,respectively, insures uniformity and identicalness of the members fromone frame member to another since each may be taken from a single length22 of extruded material cut to the desired length and at such an angle(in this example, 45) so as to permit the adjacent ends of the side andend frame members 12, 14 and 16, 18, respectively, to abut and to matein a right-angular miter joint 24.

The extruded length of aluminum 22 is seen to comprise an elongated mainbody portion 26 having a trapezoidal transverse cross-sectionalconfiguration and having opposed spaced and substantially parallelplanar edges 28, 30, respectively, and a pair of non-parallel planarsides 32, 34, respectively, of which the side 32 is perpendicular to theplanes of the edges 28, 30.

Disposed intermediate the edges 28, 30 and extending inwardly from theside 32 is an elongated groove 36 which extends from endtoend of thelength 22 and parallel to the edges 28, 30, the groove 36 havinglaterally-spaced and substantially parallel sides 38, 40 formed withlongitudinally-extending splines 42, 44, respectively, which projectinwardly of the groove 36 in confronting relation relative to oneanother. To serve a function to be described, the edge 30 is formed witha longitudinally-extending rabbet 46 extending from end-to-end of thelength 22, the rabbet including a longitudinally-extending bight 48having laterally-spaced and substantially parallel sidewalls 32A, 34Aprojecting laterally `from each end thereof and comprising extensions ofthe sides 32, 34, respectively.

Projecting laterally from the main body portion 26 and substantially atthe junction of the side 34 with the edge 28 is an elongated boss 50having opposed sides 52, 54 of which the side 52 is coplanar with theinner side 56 of the sidewall 34A, and the side 54 is coplanar with an-dforms an extension of the side 34. The boss 50, at its outerlongitudinally-extending end is rounded as at 58.

The length 22, so formed, may now be cut and beveled to form the sideframe members 12, 14 and end frame members 16, 1S which are to be joinedin the miter joints 24, but prior to this assembly, one of the sideframe members 12, for example, is formed with a plurality oflongitudinally-spaced elongated arcuate cut-outs 60 which have theirrespective axes extending parallel to the longitudinal axis ofthe sideframe member 12 in which they -are formed, the cut-outs 60 extendinginwardly from the side 52 and adjacent portions of the end 58 to leave aconcave-convex hinge barrel cover 62 extending across each of thecut-outs to serve in a manner to be described.

With the side and end frame members 12, 14 and 16, 18, respectively,constructed as described, the same are assembled on the outer marginaledges of a substantially rectangmlar door panel 64, the marginal edgesthereof being received within the rabbets 46 which now become endless.This assembly also joins the adjacent` ends f the grooves 36 so thatthey, too, become endless.

Either before or after the assembly of the side and end frame members12, 14 and 16, 18, respectively, the necessary hardware, the hingemeans, for example, is mounted on the member designated to carry thesame. In the instant embodiment of this invention, the hinge means isseen to include an elongated hinge barrel 66 having an axially-extendingcylindrical passageway 68 projecting from end-to-end thereof. As is seenin FIGURES 3 and 5, one side of an integrally-formed hinge plate 70extends substantially tangentially from the barrel 66, and the plate 70is formed with a plurality of transversely-extending screw-receivingopenings 72.

Each barrel 66 is iitted in, respectively, one of the cutouts or pockets60 with its passageway 68 disposed in coaxial alignment with anelongated cylindrical passage 74 that extends longitudinally through theboss 58 and which is formed therein kas the length 22 is being extruded.The barrel 66 is releasablyconnected on the frame 10 by means of `anL-shaped connector rod 76 having an elongated leg portion 78 receivedwithin the ends of the passage 74 of the side frame member 12, and anolset latemily-extending foot portion 80 which is adapted to projectinto the ladjacent end of the passage 70 formed in the adjacent ones ofthe end frame members 16.

The adjacent pairs of side and end frame members arereleasably-connected together at the corners of the frame by means of aplurality of relatively at thin rightangular bracket plates 82, thelatter each being juxtaposed substantially flush against the sides 32 ofthe side frame members at the adjacent pairs of ends of the side and endframe members 12, 14 and 16, 1S, respectively. As is shown in FIGURES 3and 4, the inner marginal edge of each of the connector plates 82 isformed with a laterallyextending L-shaped flange 84 which overlaps theouter ends of the sidewalls 32A adjacent each adjacent pair of ends ofsaid side and end frame members 12, 14 and 16, 18, respectively. Theplates 82 are each apertured as at 86 at spaced intervals, each of theapertures receiving 4 a bolt 88 therethrough which isthreadedly-received between the splines 42, 44 of, respectively, eachgroove 36.

In FIGURE 3 it is shown that the completed frame 10 is adapted to besecured to the jamb 90 of an opening 92 forming a part of the cabinetwall 94 (see FIGURE 2), the securing means comprising the screws 96which are passed through the openings 72 formed in each hinge plate forthreaded-engagement with the jamb 90. The hinge plates 70 each t flushagainst the edge 28 when the door is in its closed position and is thusnot visible. The angle bracket plates 82 are located at the inner sideof the frame 10 and are concealed from view when the frame 10 is in itsclosed position, and the concave-convex cover 62 hides the barrel 66when the frame 10 is moved to its closed position.

Having described and illustrated one embodiment of this invention indetail, it will be understood that the same is offered merely by way ofexample, and that this invention is to be limited only by the scope othe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A -frame assembly comprising: a plurality of elongated extrudedmembers mitered together at meeting ends to `detine a rectangular frame,each of said members having a longitudinal groove substantially midwayof its width, the groove of one member meeting that of another at saidmitered ends; each of said Agrooves having on its confronting innerfaces a plurality of parallel, elongated splines; angle bracketsoverlying each pair of meeting ends, and screws penetrating saidbrackets and engaging the splines of the meeting grooves.

2. An open door frame as defined in claim 1, wherein said frame memberseach have an inner edge disposed at the outer periphery of saidtransverse opening, Aand said connector plates are each juxtaposedagainst said inner sides of said frame members and wherein each isprovided with a continuous right-angular flange projecting laterallyfrom a side thereof overlapping the edge of each adjacent pair of endsof said frame members.

3. An open door yframe as defined in claim 2, wherein the inner edges ofeach of said frame members are rabbetted to receive the peripheralmarginal edge of a closure panel therein, said closure panel extendingtransversely across said opening.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,666,508 l/ 1954 Nardulli287-48936 2,691,803 10/ 1954 Keebler 49-397 2,818,146 12/ 1957 Palmieri49-397 3,200,913 8/ 1965 Nelson 52-656 XR KENNETH DOWNEY, PrimaryExaminer.

